INDI A

SINGAPORE

M A L AY S I A

Notion Press No.8, 3rd Cross Street CIT Colony, Mylapore Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600004 First Published by Notion Press 2020 Copyright © Karamveer 2020 All Rights Reserved. ISBN 978-1-63633-632-9 This book has been published with all efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. However, the author and the publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. While every effort has been made to avoid any mistake or omission, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that neither the author nor the publishers or printers would be liable in any manner to any person by reason of any mistake or omission in this publication or for any action taken or omitted to be taken or advice rendered or accepted on the basis of this work. For any defect in printing or binding the publishers will be liable only to replace the defective copy by another copy of this work then available.

Dedicated to ‘The Efforts & Sacrifices of Motherhood’

Disclaimer

T

his book is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, business, places, articles, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. However, in the event the author has been unable to track any source or if any copyright has been inadvertently infringed, please notify the author in writing for the corrective action.

Contents

Preface��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9 Prologue ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11 Chapter # 1 Nowheresville: Welcome to the World of Anonymity ................................................................. 25 Chapter # 2 Expecting Exchange .................................................31 Chapter # 3 Eyeing a Breakthrough............................................51 Chapter # 4 Bloody Mary @ The Wine  Capital of India ........................................................59 Chapter # 5 Back to Square One ................................................ 75 Chapter # 6 Zero Mile @ Close to the Roots: Nagpur, Pin code 440001 ......................................89 Chapter # 7 Old World Charm ................................................. 105 Chapter # 8 Another Twist in the Unresolved Enigma ......115 Chapter # 9 Motherly Expression..............................................123 Chapter # 10 Revisiting the Orange City ................................. 131 Chapter # 11 He Crab and She Crab: Romancing  the Same Zodiac .....................................................137 Chapter # 12 Sharing a Secret ......................................................151 Chapter # 13 Is His Sweetheart the Mole? ...............................181 7

Contents

Chapter # 14 Chapter # 15 Chapter # 16 Chapter # 17 Chapter # 18

How Far… How Close .......................................... 195 Discovering the Roots..........................................203 Deuce: Kai Po Che!���������������������������������������������������211 Duel @ Patang-Bazar ............................................ 227 Metaphysics of Motherhood .............................. 235

Epilogue ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������247

8

Preface

A

fter getting my debut novel published in 2016, I started working upon my next fiction. My first book titled Retreat: Addressing an Abandoned Dream was of romantic genre, but this time, I have penned a mystery fiction. The central idea for a mystery story was in my mind since my medical college days. I created the fictional characters and events around that well-thought idea. Visiting new places is my passion. Before visiting a place where I have never been before, I do a lot of research. This habit of mine was quite useful for finalizing the topography of a mystery plot. My medical profession enabled me to keep the story realistic and logical as well. I feel that reading a story book is like proceeding on a journey, which makes the readers travel to others’ lifetime. I hope and wish that readers will feel delighted throughout the journey of reading this book. Let me take you to the plot of a bloody brain teaser, wherein an elusive enigma gets increasingly murkier and darker. The more you delve into it, the more intricate it gets. Welcome to Nowheresville: the world of anonymity…

9

Preface

Sometimes, to know the truth of thyself becomes as difficult as getting blood from a stone� Happy journey dear readers!

10

Prologue

E

veryone has their own views and ways of solving their problems. No one is untouched by difficulties in their lifetime. Whenever a serious trouble surfaces suddenly in life, how one perceives and proceeds varies from person to person and from situation to situation. Here I’m going to narrate an extremely mind-boggling story that will spellbind the readers to speculate the best of the multiple probabilities. Others’ lives are not often as predictable as it appears to us. Life poses different kinds and levels of problems at different times. Everyone has their own hard time. A king might be discontented, hunger might be the prime concern for a famished beggar, a wealthy person might have indigestion, the poor may be worried about the education of their offspring, an educated person might be disturbed by unemployment, an employed person might have his own issues with his immediate boss. And, why does the boss keep yelling if he is the boss? Various sorts of problems, different levels of difficulties, a wide spectrum of outcomes of those issues, keep arising from time to time. Is life a metaphor for problems? The word ‘problem’ may be a synonym for life for many who generally believe that happiness ensues at the end of problems. 11

Prologue

Everyone has formed their own afterword for life. To unveil the metaphysics of happiness, to discover the formula of contented life, man has been working incessantly. This everlasting pursuit of seeking happiness of the mortal man remains immortal. The problems happen to be the repeated obstacles in the road to happiness. From poor to super-rich, adolescent to elderly, unemployed to entrepreneur, every human has got their unique set of issues. But one thing is common across the globe, that all feel hunger pangs when they don’t get food. Hunger is the best spice. Isn’t it? And here the word ‘spice’ reminds me of a city known for its spicy cuisines. I am sure, whoever has had a chance to taste its mouth-watering food can easily guess the name of this popular city of Gujarat. Truly, it’s a paradise for foodies. Right! We are talking about Surat. Recently, Surat was adjudged as the second cleanest city of India on 21 August 2020. Let’s get landed in Surat, wherein our young protagonist, Sanjay Shah, is busy in his routine and problem-free life. Well dressed in a pin-striped sky-blue shirt and a camel-coloured trouser, Sanjay is sitting in his office cabin. Looks pretty relaxed, as no problem is around. He leans backward in his luxurious office chair and looks vaguely at the ceiling. His mind is free from any work due immediately or any forthcoming issue. Sanjay stretches his arms in between. Doesn’t he have any work to do today? Perhaps he has now. He leans forward, extends his arm to fetch something from the well-arranged office table in front. He draws a fancy paperweight in his reach, lifts it and places it over a particular place on the table-glass surface. There is a detailed map of Surat City laid under the table-glass. Sanjay starts revolving the paper weight over a landmark shown in the 12

Prologue

map. He has some interest in that location, or perhaps he likes the sound of a paper weight revolving on glass surface. Close to his left hand, a model of a multi-storey building is kept on the table. Prima facie, Sanjay seems to be dealing in the real-estate business. Of course, he is wealthy and healthy as well. Usually, rich people’s life seems perfect, may be God gifted or self-made. To outsiders, it appears that a wealthy man is living a blessed life. People who know Sanjay will agree that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has everything, everything that one often requires or dreams of. Rather, he has all that in plenty. No problems. No issues at all. Just sitting in the lap of luxury and having leisure time. But problems can pop up in anyone’s life anytime, from nowhere, without any warning or anticipation. Has anyone ever searched for problems on the Google search engine? Or searched for problems unintentionally or inadvertently? No one wants problems in their life. At least, one must refrain from searching problems on Google. We will, later on, come to that point of discovering problems on the internet. Before proceeding further, let’s read what an ancient philosopher has suggested for a good life. In dwelling, live close to the ground� In thinking, keep to the simple� In conflict, be fair and generous� In governing, don’t try to control� In work, do what you enjoy� In family life, be completely present� (Lao Tzu) Looking vaguely, at the spinning paper weight on his office table, Sanjay starts twisting his revolving chair in 13

Prologue

between. This gentle-looking young man is in his 25th year of his life. He is not a highly paid employee of this grand office, located on the top floor in a prime commercial area. He is the sole heir of this empire of the Shah family that owns a well-established and flourishing diamond business. Although Sanjay has no great interest in the diamond business as his parents do, he has no aversion either. Sanjay is of a creative mindset. So he might be more inclined to his family’s recent venture into the real-estate and construction business. Today, what is on the card for him? He seems aloof right now. He is the boss, and the boss hasn’t decided yet what to do today. Suddenly, Sanjay looks in front at a wall clock. Is he conspicuously looking for a purpose to follow? Definitely not. He has no special plan. He is looking forward to utilizing his leisure time. Despite his young age, Sanjay is quite mature and wise. Mentally, he is ahead of his youthful age. Sensing Sanjay’s interest and scope in the construction field, his father ventured into the field of affordable housing in the most happening town of Gujarat. He is the chair and vicepresident of their ancillary business firm, Dreamscape Builders. Sanjay’s father, Mr. Rajender Shah, pioneered it for his only son. This construction company is not the main business of the Shah family. Mr.  Rajender and his wife, Reema Shah, are still happily involved in their traditional family business of diamonds. They run a diamond cutting and polishing workshop in Surat, well famed as Diamondscape. Known for its relaxed lifestyle, Surat is the second largest town of Gujarat, after Ahmedabad. It needs no introduction for a Gujarati. Rather, the business community is well versed with 14

Prologue

its potential aura in the international market. Surat is also a port city, situated on the south of Tapti River and is well connected to other cities via road, railway, by air and through sea too. Surat is the hub of diamond cutting and polishing. 90% of world’s diamond cutting and polishing is done in Surat and so this metropolis is known as the diamond heart of the world. As Sanjay grew, his father noticed that he has no extraordinary interest in his family business of diamond cutting and polishing. Eventually, Sanjay was sent to the USA for his higher studies, which he himself wanted to pursue. After completing his MBA from a renowned premier institute of the United States, Sanjay joined his family business. His mother has keen interest in diamond business. Because of her vast experience, she can run Diamondscape single-handedly, and she does it whenever Mr. Rajender is unavailable. Reema ji comes to the workshop almost every day. Sanjay is the only child of the Shah couple and was born after a lot of prayers and medical efforts. Presently, Mr.  Rajender Shah is helping his son in establishing the Dreamscape Builder’s project and Mrs. Shah is supporting her husband in the Diamondscape business. All the three members of the family were happily occupied in pursuing the family business until yesterday. What happened, then? Yesterday, Mrs. Shah met with an accident in front of the Shah Complex on the road that is quite busy road. It heads to Bombay Market Road. While coming out of her car she got injured badly. Fortunately, she didn’t have serious injuries and was discharged from the hospital the same night. Sanjay 15

In the backdrop of glittering diamonds, the story begins in a city famous for its relaxed lifestyle and spicy cuisine, wherein the roots of the protagonist are cut off suddenly in one go, rendering him kinless. A mystery unearths in Sanjay’s life, disproving his relation with his parents. Tangled in the darkness of anonymity, he leaves no stone unturned to discover his exact identity. But the more he searches, the more he sinks. Despite his best efforts, Sanjay is back to square one. Do his parents know about his identity? Or was he exchanged at the time of birth? Meanwhile, in the middle of his quest, he comes across another mind-boggling challenge from a smart diamond thief. Is his sweetheart in cahoots with the plunderer? Will he solve the riddle to find out his real parents? Pull up your socks for a brain-teasing exercise that vacillates between the Diamond City and the Orange City of India. Feel the ear-deafening crescendo of identity crisis. Sometimes, to know the truth of thyself becomes as difficult as getting blood from a stone. Karamveer is a doctor by profession and a writer by passion. This is his second book. Apart from writing, he loves photography and travelling. In his leisure time, he enjoys poetry and playing golf. He can be contacted through email: [email protected] Price 240